Ring



. Dec. 12, ,1939. E. MOLDENHAUER 2,182,375

' RING Filed Jan. 29, 1937 INVENTOR Eric Moldenhauer I BY QY M w@ 4 ATTORNEY v Patented Dec. 12 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to finger rings, and more particularly to wedding rings, and has for its object a novel construction serving various useful purposes.

This application is for an invention similar to that found in my copending application Serial No. 28,823 filed June 23, 1935, as well as my copending application Serial No. 49,018 filed November 9, 1935.

This application relates to modified forms of ring construction in which an articulated portion of the ring provides for the same general purpose as in my prior constructions, namely, to afiord a surface on which the marriage vow or other legend may be inscribed, and which will be concealed and protected by the articulation of one portion of the ring into a position so that when nested, the parts of the ring constitute for all purposes of general appearance a solid ring when worn on the finger, and which by voluntary act a portion of the ring may be articulated out of register, in order to permit desired examination of the inscription, which otherwise is concealed and protected.

In the forms herein described, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. I is a side elevation of a half jeweled ring in which the portion with jeweled settings is oscillatable to cover or reveal a portion of the continuous ring member; and Fig. I is an edge view showing the jeweled portion oscillated as by voluntary means, from the outer surface of the juxtaposed portion of the continuous ring member.

Fig. II is a side elevationof a half jeweled ring in which the shank outer portion is oscillated; while Fig. II is an edge view showing the outer shank portion oscillated out of register in order to disclose the inscription; and Fig. H is a bottom view of Fig. II showing the outer shank portion displaced to reveal the legend engraved on the shank portion of the continuous ring.

Fig. III is a side elevation of a French or segmented ring in which the jeweled portion does not conform exactly with the juxtaposed surface of the continuous inner ring portion, but provides for an oscillatable member serving the same general purpose, but slightly yieldable in order to provide in a modified manner the security necessary for the nesting oi the relatively oscillatable parts; Fig. III is an edge view of Fig. III with the jeweled part oscillated out of register, as when voluntarily displaced forthe purpose of examining the concealed inscription.

Fig. IV is a side elevation of a ring with a jeweled section at the crown, forming a segmental member occupying a recess on the outer portion of the continuous ring member, and pivoted at one end permitting the other end of the movable section to oscillate laterally out of register with the juxtaposed outer surface of the continuous ring member; and Fig. IV shows an edge view from the top of Fig. IV with the pivotally swinging movable member shown in dotted lines, as it would be displaced for the observation of the inscription.

Fig. V is a side elevation of a modified form in which a section, preferably a jeweled crown section, is pivoted at one end permitting it to be raised from the juxtaposed surface of the continuous ring member, and when nested to lock in place, the figure showing likewise in dotted lines the open position permitting observation of the inscription on the surface otherwise covered and concealed.

Fig. VI shows a side elevation of a ring in which an inner continuous member pivotally supports two portions of an outer ring member each hinged at one end, and in dotted position shown when raised by pivoting on their respective hinges, to reveal the inscription or inscriptions on the outer surface of the continuous ring member, but forming by suitable latching and locking means an effectively continuous ring unit concealing the marriage vow or other legends.

In Figs. I and I the continuous ring portion A is preferably thicker at the shank, and a pivoted member B concentric with the crown portion is secured thereto by pivots CC, so that the pivotal portion fits closely over the outer surface D of the adjacent surface of the continuous ring member A. The substantially diametrically opposed pivots CC permit the oscillatable portion 3 to be laterally shifted by voluntary force, as shown in Fig. I and by the conformation of the circular engagement of the surfaces, and the particular positioning of the pivots, effect a locking of the oscillatable portion when it is nested or brought into register with the adjacent portion of the continuous ring. Withthis movable portion so formed, it is adapted for separate construction to provide for the setting of gems, and in fact the provision of a jeweled separate member which may thereafter be attached to the continuous ring portion, even though of slightly varied size, in order to provide the normal requirements in the selection of a ring, or particularly a Wedding ring without vari-sizing the finger-contacting portion of the unit ring.

In the forms shown in Fig. II, II and II, the shank portion 18 is the oscillatable member, while the continuous ring portion A provides at the crown the thicker portion, which in this form serves as a more substantial support for the jeweling. In this form the outer surface D provides for the desired engraving to be concealed in normal use, or inspected by voluntary displacement of the member B, which when worn is on the underside or protected portion of the finger.

In Figs. III and HP, the ring portion A may be similar to that in Fig. I. or may be, if desired, of more uniform thickness throughout its circumference, and the oscillatable member F is formed with a flat crown portion G adapted for that particular mounting or setting of gems, as shown. When so formed the movable member F may have its interior so constructed as to form the looking or binding contact at F, with a clearance ,f-f at both sides so that a slight yielding of the metal insures a binding or looking at the contact F, and thereby securely holds the crown portion in its nested position in contact with the juxtaposed surface containing the inscription, but permits by slight voluntary force a displacement, when desired, to permit inspection of the engraved surface.

In Figs. IV and IV, a continuous ring portion A has a more limited section of its outer surface cut away or relatively reduced or fashioned, permittlng a movable section H to be accommodated by a pivot J at one end, allowing it to swing on its pivot relative to the continuous portion A with the other end of H formed as a latch K which holds the member A in its closed or nested position against any accidental displacement. The member H may be formed with a juxtaposed or adjacent portion of the continuous ring member either in a curve, as shown, or modified, or fiat, in any case pivoted and held by the pivot securely on the ring member A A latch with cooperating parts on the movable member H and the ring member A may be formed in various Ways so long as it holds the member H securely when in nested position and in register covering the surface D and prevents accidental displacement but permits swinging of the section H with slight voluntary force. This form permits various settings of gems to be made up separately, and even permits the selection of the jeweled portion first, by the ultimate consumer, and thereafter the application of the jeweled portion to the ring separately selected for size, or otherwise.

In Fig. V, the continuous ring portion A is made thicker on both sides aa of the crown portion of the ring, and provides for a recess to accommodate an articulated portion L, which may be made of any desired shape but substantially fits the recess M formed between the ears a, a One end of the movable portion is pivoted to ear a by pivot N extending transverse to the plane of the ring, in order that the movable section L may be articulated in the plane of the ring to a position nesting in the recess M, where the surface of the ring is adapted for the engraving which it is desired to protect and conceal. The other end of the movable section L has a latch O to engage with the ear a and hold the shiftable member L locked against accidental displacement, but permitting by slight voluntary effort the swinging of the movable member, as shown in the dotted position, or shifted still further to fully reveal the legend or marking on the surface of the recess M. A nail-notch or other suitable means provides for applying the volun- ;tary force, if desired.

In Fig. VI, a continuous ring portion A has bosses P, P, or enlargements, on its outer periphery preferably formed integral, which provide for hinges Q, Q, to secure movable outer sections R, R, of the ring, in a manner that holds each movable section R in its closed or nested position against the outer surface D D of the continuous ring portion A to conceal and protect the engraving, such as marriage vow or otherwise, on the outer surface of the continuous ring member. The ends S of the oscillatable sections R, R, may be formed with a latch engagement with the boss P, as by a tongue and groove or a protuberance, to hold the oscillatable sections against accidental displacement when nested and forming a unit ring during normal use, but permitting by slight voluntary effort the displacement of one of the movable sections, or both, when it is desired to examine the engraving on the surface D While shown as substantially semi-circular outer movable sections, the dimensions may be varied as, for example, depending upon the amount of record to be engraved on the ring, forthe purposes for which this type or ring is intended.

It will be noted that the constructions herein shown and described provide for securely attaching the articulated sections, which is of importance particularly when the articulated sections are jeweled. The means of attachment and the conformation of the engaging parts for nesting or shifting out of normal position, likewise afford advantageous and simple means for the locking of the articulated part against accidental displacement. While in some Iorms a latch, as more particularly described in my copending application Serial No. a9,0l8, or modifications thereof may be used in conjunction with the constructions herein particularly described or forming the subject-matter of this application, while various forms herein lend themselves to modified forms of latch or look construction, as will be realized iron'l the above description.

In all, the constructions provide for a surface on which dates, legends or sentiments, marriage vow or otherwise, may be forever recorded throughout the existence of the ring, and the means for concealing and protecting the engraving or marking, and While providing a unit ring, in effect a solid ring when in normal use, they also provide for voluntary dislocation of the covering and protecting portion, when desired. for inspection of the inscription. Furthermore, in many of the forms a most advantageous arrangement is provided for the mounting of gems, that is the jewelmg of the rmg, and particularly when.

only part jeweled. The production of these rings may also involve the making of jeweled sections which can be wholly removed when, for example, fashion changes, and the gems in their setting may be otherwise used as a diiferent piece of jewelry. Furthermore, in emergency the jeweled portion may be detached for the resetting, while still retaining the continuous ring portion temporarily for wear.

Many variations may be made in the constructions herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, and what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A ring of the character described, having a continuous finger-contacting ring portion, a secend section oscillatable with respect to the continuous ring portion and extending part of the circumference around the outside of the continuous ring portion, a radially disposed pivot connecting the second portion to the continuous ring portion, and means for holding the two portions in nested position against accidental oscillation.

ERIC MOLDENHAUER. 

